Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association (ASAWAA) continue strike for third day

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The statewide strike by the Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association (ASAWAA) continued for the third day, where they demanded payment of wages instead of remuneration and recognizing them as employees.

The CITU-affiliated Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association (ASAWAA) has called a four-day strike in support of the Anganwadi workers and assistants in the state. Payment of wages instead of remuneration; increase of monthly remuneration to Rs. 10,000 by the Government of Assam until wages cannot be paid; recognition of Anganwadi workers and assistants working in ICDS as regular employees; payment of one-time retirement grants announced by the Government The strike was called by the Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association to demand the promotion of assistants to vacant posts and the conversion of mini Anganwadi centres into full-fledged centres.

The departmental authorities threatened to dismiss the workers and assistants for closing the centre for the past two days. Anganwadi workers and assistants from 29 districts of the state staged a demonstration at the premises of the District Social Welfare Officer's offices. They also staged a strike at every project in Udalguri district. In Sivsagar district, despite severe obstacles from the administration, the workers and assistants protested. Similarly, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Majuli, Dhemaji, Mangaldai, Tezpur, Udalguri, Goreswar, Tamulpur, Masalpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Shaigaon, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Dhubri, Karimganj, Amingaon, Beltola in Guwahati, Charideo, Hojai, Silchar, Karbi Anglong, and Kokrajhar also witnessed the protest. The protest was held at the premises of the District Women and Child Welfare Department office in Beltola, Guwahati. The CITU State General Secretary, Tapan Sharma, was present at the protest. He said the present government has been exploiting the workers by imposing a workload on them. He called on the workers to form a unified movement. The Union of Kamrup (M) district president, Monika Dutta, expressed her anger over the indifference of the Assam government towards the just demands of Anganwadi workers and assistants. The present government plans to set a record of creating beneficiaries under the Orunodoi scheme instead of paying due wages to the workers and assistants as per the Labour Act.

The Assam State Anganwadi Workers and Assistants Association will hold a protest on Friday at 11 p.m. at the premises of each district officer's office and district women and child welfare department office at Beltola, Guwahati.

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